The Polar Dogs Antarctica Expedition

Ben’s polar training, Iqaluit, 2014

Skiing into a whiteout on the sea ice outside Iqaluit in Arctic Canada during polar training

For his first polar training back in 2014, Ben spent three weeks skiing and camping with the McNair family of legendary polar explorers in Iqaluit, up in Arctic Canada, on Baffin Island. From the start of the programme, Ben and the team camped out on the sea ice in -40°C, practising ski techniques, pulling pulks, navigation, testing different clothing and layering systems, swimming in Arctic waters, and even a week with kite skiing.

Skiing into a whiteout on the sea ice outside Iqaluit in Arctic Canada during polar training
The northern lights over the snow and sea ice at Iqaluit in Arctic Canada, during polar training
Rough sea ice at Iqaluit, where tidal movement pushes the ice up and down and forms walls and ridges along the edge of the coast
Three skiers hauling pulks in flat light on the sea ice during polar training at Iqaluit in Arctic Canada
Two loaded pulks on the sea ice under a bright sun during polar training at Iqaluit in Arctic Canada
Hauling a pulk across the snow under a blue sky during polar training at Iqaluit in Arctic Canada
A lone skier hauling a pulk in the low evening light during polar training at Iqaluit in Arctic Canada
A baseplate compass and map used for navigation training at Iqaluit in Arctic Canada
Skiers hauling pulks over rough sea ice near Iqaluit in Arctic Canada
A skier and pulk silhouetted against the low sun on the sea ice during polar training at Iqaluit in Arctic Canada
A dog team crossing rough sea ice near Iqaluit in Arctic Canada